Macron backs ‘end of life’ bill, aims for parliament debate in May.

Context: President Emmanuel Macron said that he backed new end-of-life legislation.

• He said he did not want to call the new legislation euthanasia or assisted suicide, but rather “help to die”.

Euthanasia:

• Euthanasia is the practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering.

There are two main types of euthanasia:

• Active euthanasia is when a doctor or other medical professional takes steps to deliberately end a patient’s life, such as by lethal injection.
• Passive euthanasia is when a doctor allows a patient to die by withholding or withdrawing treatment, such as stopping life support.

Euthanasia in India:

• Aruna Shanbaug case(2011):
  • The Supreme Court recognized passive euthanasia and allowed withdrawal of life support for terminally ill patients who cannot make informed decisions.
• Common Cause v Union of India(2018):
  • The Supreme Court recognised the right to die with dignity as a fundamental right and prescribed guidelines for terminally ill patients to enforce the right.
  • In 2023 the Supreme Court modified the guidelines to make the right to die with dignity more accessible.

Source: The Hindu